He said he fled the country because he did not trust the judiciary, the reports said. He said there were attempts to terrorise his employees into testifying against him and that he had received threats after his resignation

“I ask all the people of Basra to clear my name of these allegations, so that I can return to my duty,” he said earlier on Thursday, when he announced his resignation at the opening of a new bridge.

He said he had left the position because he was a victim to pressure from those “associated with political factions”.

He promised to cooperate with a parliamentary commission set by the Iraqi prime minister to investigate the corruption allegations and denied any wrong doing. But hours after announcing his resignation, he slipped across the border controlled by Shiite militias.

Mr Al Nasrawi was placed under a travel ban until the parliamentary investigation was completed.

The member of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq party, has been governor of Basra province since June 2013.

He has Australian citizenship and is close to the cleric and political leader Ammar Al Hakim.